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Police Nab Serial Carbreak Suspect — Again

An Everett man on probation for breaking and entering and other offenses was arraigned on Feb. 12 and released on low bail by Judge Benjamin Barnes after the repeat offender was once again arrested by Chelsea Police with a backpack full of stolen property.

Leland Butler, 35, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on charges of receiving stolen property over $250, trespassing, and disorderly conduct as a subsequent offense. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Henry recommended that bail be set in the amount of $5,000 and that Barnes be ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device in the event he is released on bail. Judge Benjamin Barnes imposed $500 bail and declined to impose the requested GPS condition of release.

Butler is currently on three years of probation following a two-year state prison term after Suffolk prosecutors indicted him for possession of burglarious tools, breaking and entering in the night with intent to commit a felony, and three counts of destruction of property. Those cases arose out of investigations by Chelsea Police as well. Prosecutors notified the Probation Department of Butler’s arrest in the event that they wish to seek a surrender hearing for violating the terms of his release.

“Car breaks dropped noticeably the last time Chelsea Police arrested this defendant,” District Attorney Dan Conley said. “We’ve already notified probation officers in an effort to have him returned to prison.”

Henry told the court that at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 12, Chelsea Police officers spotted Butler standing in front of a Bellingham Square market holding a box that was labeled as containing a computer printer. Having previously arrested Butler for breaking and entering and other offenses, the officers sought to speak with him, prosecutors said.

As officers approached, Butler abandoned the box and led police on a foot chase, during which the defendant jumped over a fence and ran in and out of traffic, prosecutors said.

Butler was placed under arrest for trespassing through a private yard during the pursuit, and during a subsequent search of his backpack officers found glass believed to be from a broken car window, a designer handbag with a Marshall’s price tag still attached, woman’s designer sunglasses, a set of keys chained to a woman’s change purse, a GPS device, phone chargers, various gift cards, and discount club membership cards bearing the names of other individuals, prosecutors said.

In Butler’s pockets were men’s cologne and women’s perfume.

Butler is represented by David Andrew Leon. He will return to court on March